2011 Holiday Events - Fun Things To Do in Richmond, VA

Ring in the Holiday Season With These Fun Things To Do in Richmond, VA

Christmas is here, and it’s time to make merry with these fun things to do in Richmond, VA.

Perhaps, with your mate, and amongst your friends and family, you are blessed to have so much that the traditional type of shopping, for the traditional type gifts, doesn’t work. If that’s the case with you and yours, then give, this Yuletide season, the precious gift of time spent together with these fun things to do in Richmond, VA.

The following list, of fun things to do in Richmond, VA, is representative of many interests. Pick, and choose, which of these fun things to do in Richmond, VA best suits the taste of those individuals on your Santa list. And remember, just like good old St. Nick does, don’t forget to check your list twice, before you give a gift from this list of fun things to do in Richmond, VA!

Many of the following venues begin their Christmas and Holiday programs, all their fun things to do in Richmond, VA, at the end of November.

Maymont - An American Estate

2201 Shields Lake Drive; 804-358-7166; (http://www.maymont.org/)

Maymont, with its historic home, and gorgeous gardens, offers multiple fun things to do in Richmond, VA; many events are offered at multiple times.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Like Maymont, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden offers several Christmas and Holiday fun things to do in Richmond, VA, such as:

Dominion GardenFest of Lights 2011 (This is their signature event of the Christmas season!)Saturday Brunch with SantaGinter in the Morning - DecemberMaking 'Fairy Houses' with Dried Natural Materials (Adult and Child Pair)New Year's Eve Family Frolic

The Nutcracker - Performed by the Richmond Ballet

407 East Canal Street; 804-344-0906; (http://www.richmondballet.com/)

This Christmas classic is always a favorite and a winner with all ages. And no one, in my opinion, performs The Nutcracker better than does the Richmond Ballet. So, as you plan your itinerary of fun things to do in Richmond, VA, check out their website for ticket and price information. Perhaps your little princess would like to attend Clara's Tea Party, which like The Nutcracker performance, is also held at Richmond CenterStage.

And, if you can’t make it to the Richmond Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker, the Concert Ballet of Virginia is performing The Nutcracker at selected local schools.

Children's Museum of Richmond

2626 West Broad Street; 804-474-7000; (http://www.c-mor.org/)

When it comes to Christmas and Holiday activities, for families and children, no one does fun things to do in Richmond, VA any better! And their signature Yuletide event on the list of fun things to do in Richmond, VA is Legendary Santa. While not widely known beyond the borders of Virginia, to Virginians, Legendary Santa is the “REAL SANTA CLAUS!” And, as you once visited this Santa, when you were young, now the Children’s Museum gives you the opportunity to bring your children and/or grandchildren to see this “REAL SANTA CLAUS!” This is a Christmas tradition for many families living in this area. And the next best thing to sitting on Santa’s lap, is Tea with Santa.

While Legendary Santa “will come down the chimney daily…” at their West Broad Street location, the Children’s Museum also has another Museum site in the Western suburban area of Richmond. Same website address and phone number, but their location is: 2200 Old Brick Rd, Glen Allen, Virginia.

Other Holiday Events

A few miscellaneous events to look out for each year that always make my list of Christmas and Holiday fun things to do in Richmond, VA:

I like Mannheim Steamroller…watch out for their yearly performance. Do the same with the Richmond Symphony, as they usually feature Christmas and Holiday oriented performances, such as "Handel's Messiah."

If you’re looking for religious Christmas programs, such as pageants, then search local papers, like Style Weekly, and Richmond.com, each year, for churches that offer different programs. These performances are both spiritual as well as being fun things to do in Richmond, VA. And for many, they zone in on the true meaning of the season. "Bethlehem Walk," presented by Salem Baptist Church, located in Goochland, Virginia, is an excellent program.

While going to performances by the Richmond Ballet and Richmond Symphony are exciting, don’t underestimate the power of talent at the high school and university level. Local high schools and universities routinely have concert performances as well as popular Christmas productions, like Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol.

And what is Christmas without Christmas and Holiday decorations? If you’re eager to see how others decorate for the Yuletide season, then you’ll want to check out some of the holiday home tours. Historical neighborhoods, like The Fan (Fan Holiday House Tour) (Holiday Glitter: Monument Avenue After Dark, sponsored by the Valentine Richmond History Center) and Church Hill (Church Hill Holiday House Tour), have awesome displays. And while you’re in Church Hill, soaking up both history and the Holidays, check out the Christmas programs, such as, Holiday Vespers and Candlelight Caroling, at historic St. John’s Church (2401 E. Broad Street; 804-648-5015) (http://www.historicstjohnschurch.org/). These are not to be missed fun things to do in Richmond, VA.

In Closing

I hope this list of Christmas and Holiday fun things to do in Richmond, VA, help to make your Yuletide season merry and bright! As you mark up your calendars with fun things to in Richmond, VA, don’t forget to check out entities such as: Virginia House (part of the Virginia Historical Society), The Museum of the Confederacy, and the Science Museum of Virginia as these places offer maybe only one or two events for the season. But despite their smaller number of events, as opposed to those in the lists above, they may be just what that special someone in your life is looking for and happens to think has the starring role on their personal list of fun things to do in Richmond, VA. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Blessed New Year to you!